Method and apparatus for drawing and annealing sheet-glass



W. S. TEMPLE-AND J. A. KEALEY. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING AND ANNEALING SHEET GLASS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 20.1918.

1,334,569. Patentd Mar. 23, 1920.

1 3 3 SHEETSSHEET I- WITNESS: I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

W. S. TEMPLE AND J. A. .KEALEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING AND ANNEALING SHEET GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20.1918.

- Patented Ma1-. 23, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M 2:4 LG @iz:

INVENTOR.

A TTORXD W. S. TEMPLE AND J. A KEALEY.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING AND ANNEALING S HEET GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20,1918.

1 ,334:,569. Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

dMNVE/YTOR.

. a qadby A TTORNEY.

- To all whom it may concern:

paratus for drawing "and annealin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. TEMPLE AND JOHN A. KEAL'EY, OF MOUNT VERNON, OHIO.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR. DRAWING AND ANNEALING SHEET-GLASS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Application filed July 20, 1918. Serial No. 245,809.

' Be it known that we, WILLIAM S. TEMPLE andJoHN A. KEALEY, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Knox and State of Ul io, have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Methods and Apparatu for Drawing and Annealing Sheet-Glass, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to method and apsheet glass in one operation. It is directe to the drawing of sheets of glass from a viscous bath and in such a manner thatthe drawing operation may be continued, practically without pause, indefinitely. Our method and apparatus are such that the sheet of glass being drawn is subjected to a minimum contact with extraneous materials or surfaces.

Certain attempts to draw sheet glass hitherto made have contemplated the drawing of the sheet upwardly through rollers and usually have contemplated a bending of such sheet a short distance above the bath followed by its subsequent horizontal movement while the lower vertical end of the sheet is continually being replenished by the viscous glass from the bath. The contact with these rollers seems to invariably result in music lines and similar defects, doubtless due to the relatively cold surface of the rollers.

Our invention involves the idea of a drawing operation which is continually vertical. It contemplates the initiation of the sheet with a bait that moves vertically upwardcarrying the sheet head and, in conjunction with this, .two series of clamps mounted upon endless chains and automatically presented to grip the edges of the sheet of glass and continue its upward movement, eventually replacing the bait and rendering its use unnecessary after the sheet has been initiated. Our invention further contemplates the surrounding of the upwardly moving sheets of glass with an annealing leer which is disposed above the glass bath and preferably extends about forty feet high to the point where the rising sheet passes above the operating plane of severing mechanism.

There are many other features of importance involved in our invention. The apparatus preferably used in the performance of our method is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters'of referenoe designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation of the anneahng leer which is preferably 'made in four stories.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of our improved apparatus, showing the fiat surfaces of the sheet of glass which is being elevated by the bait and by the endless gripper structure.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 3, showing the edge of the rising sheet of glass.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section illustrating the action of the clamps which grip the edges of the rising sheet of glass and which are continuously presented to grip the glass and effect its continued rising.

Fig. dis a similar section illustrating the manner 111 which the bait supports and elevates the glass sheets.

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the manner of mounting one of the sheet grippers.

Fig. 8 is a detail of a means utilized for adjusting the glass grippers so that they may firmly grip sheets of glass of all thicknesses.

Fig. 9 is a modification of the chain structure which supports the clamps.

In the drawings, our apparatus is shown as comprlsmg a vertical casing 1 formed in four stories in each of which is a door 2. Above the casing we have diagrammatically shown an elevating apparatus 3 for the bait and in COIljLlIlCtlOIl with this an electric wire 4: for severing the upper portions of the glass sheet. The upper portion of the glass sheet is desirably clamped to a plate 5 by means of clamps 6 and it may be transported to any desired point by suitable mechanism.

Within the casing l and extending ver-.

movement of the chains in a manner that will be understood,

In the operation of this structure, the drawing operation is initiated by submergand having. handles 14 provided with antifriction rollers 15. These clamps are to be normally held open by torslonal springs 16 upon their fulcrums but 'are automatically closed to grip the glass sheet by means of adjustable parallel runways embodying rods 17 and 18. These rods 17 and 18 are arranged in. pairs adjacent the endless chains and are adjusted to bring them closer together or farther apart by means of right and left hand threaded rods 19. This adjustability is very desirable in changing from one thickness of glass to another. It will be understood that the handles 14 of the clamps pass into subjection to the rods 17 and 18 just as they start on their upward travel. When this occurs, each clamp grasps an edge of the glass sheet and the multiple clamps in their upward movement continue the drawing operation, it being obvious that this may be indefinitely prolonged by removing sections of the upper end of the sheet from time to time.

Disposed upon each fioorof the casing there is a pair of deflector plates 20 which are pivoted at their lower ends and whose upper ends normally extend into close relation to the rising sheet of glass. These plates are adjustable about their pivots by means of rack and pinion mechanism 21.-

These plates are readily opened to permit,

free passage of the bait therebetween. However, when they are in juxtaposition to the glass sheet they are in position to carry any downwardly falling particles of glass. These particles may then be removed through the doors 22, see Fig. 2. In addition, each story of the annealilzgi provided with dampers 23 controll by rack and pinion mechanism 24:, which dampers may be opened to permit the escape of hot air when-necessary. I

In addition, each story is provided with plates 25 and 26 which are adjustable toward and from the upwardly moving sheet of glass so as to shut off or decrease the draft when this seems advisable.

In the modificationshown in Fig. 9, the links 27 of the supporting chain for the clamps are braced against tilting by' roller members 28'which extend-from the pins that connect the links and move in rigid runways 29. j g

It will be obvious that we have provided leer is' a simple and effective apparatus and method whereby, in a single operation, a continuous sheet of glass can be produced and this glass will be annealed and will be perfectly fiat, while neither surface is defaced or impaired by contact with any foreign object. The s eet so produced will have perfect fire luster as it is drawn from the tank and will come from the leer cool enough to be handled, just as it is in a horizontal leer.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. The method of making glass sheets which comprises drawing vertically upward from a viscous bath through an annealing leer, and successively grip ing the edges of the sheet by clamps who move upward with suchsheet through the leer.

2..The method of making glass sheets which comprises drawing vertically upward from a viscous lass bath throu h a vertical annealing leer, y means of a ait, successively gripping the edges of the sheet by clamps which move upwardly upon endless chains extending throughthe leer, severing a section of glass supported by the bait above the annealing leer and continuing the drawing operation by the upwardly moving clamps.

3. Apparatus for making sheets of glass which comprises a viscous lass bath, and a vertical annealing leer a ove and surrounding such bath, endless chains on either side of said bath extending through the leer and a pluralit of clamps on each chain, a bait for initlating the sheet, and means for then presenting the clamps in continuous succession to grip and elevate the glass sheet.

4. Apparatus for makin sheets of glass which comprises a multip e .story vertical annealing leer, and gate valves in the floor of each story of said leer controlling the draft.

5. Apparatus for makin sheets of 'glass which comprises a multip e story vertical annealing leer, gate valves in the floor of each story of said leer forcontrolling the draft, and fenders for the protection of the sheet from breakage from above.

6. Apparatus for making sheets of glass comprising means for initiating drawing, successively presented automaticall effective clamps for gripping the sheet e ges and continuing drawing, and a vertical leer through which the sheet is drawn, said clamps being always within said leer.

7. Apparatus for making sheets of glass comprising a viscous lass bath, means for initiatin drawing, camps mounted upon endless c ains disposed beside said bath for gripping the sheet ed es to continue drawmg, track elements w ich operate upon the 'clamps to automatically close and release them at the proper instant and means for 1 ,ssenee adjustin said track elements to vary the degree 0 closing of said clamps.

8. Apparatus for drawing glass sheets compmsmg means for elevating asheet, a

, 5 vertical annealing leer with successive super imposed chambers, a draft control in the y floor of each chamber, and a controlled out- 3 let to the air in a wall of each chamber.

9. A multiple story annealin1 leer com-a 10 prising floors with draft contro ing means therein, and a door for each story to permit access to the machinery by which the glass is drawn through theleer.

In testimony whereof we hereby aflix our signatures. v Q

WILLIAM s. TEMPLE.

1 JOHN A. a Witness: f;

BonNnaM. ALLEN. 

